Writing instrument



, of the 'construction herein disclosed.

Patented Oct. 14, 1947 :George 'D. Cloutier, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to Eversharp, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware VApplication July 20, 1945, Serial No.7606,0'79

v1li-claims. (c1. 12o-42) `-I-`his invention relates fto ball point pens of the -vnew type disclosed in lBiro 'Patent No. 2,397,229. 1n pens of this particular type a special .ink of 'rather high viscosity -is Yusedand the ink is sup- "plied to the =vvritingbal1 from a long open-ended l capillary passage, which passage constitutes the 'ink reservoir and is of such cross-'sectional area in-comparison to theviscosity of the ink as to keep the ink 'from flowing appreciably from the same by the action of gravity alone.' TYis transferred from this passage to the paper or other surface by causing the ball to rotate Vin 'contact-,With the fp'aper. The movement of the ball tends to draw the ink 4forwardly behind it,

The ink "im 'with the result "that the entire column of- Aink in fthe vpassage ladvarices'slowly toward the ball until all of the ink has been evacuated from the passage. The passage must then be filled 4With "ink again.

Relling has heretofore been done in a lim-*i320 ited'way by making =thetip in which the Y.ball is 'mounted amore or less permanent part of the reservoir and Ai'llling both the tip and the reservoir with ink b'y means of special lling equip- 'ment ordinarily available only at a factory. This 25 vhas proven objectionable'because of the incon- *veniences and delays necessarily involved. Asan alternative it has been proposed to make the reservoir readily detachable 'from the tip to enable the reservoir to be removed by the user and i replaced by a similar reservoir, but the reservoirs which heretofore have been proposed for this ,purpose have not vgiven satisfactory resultsdifliculty having'been experienced in getting a 'new supply of ink to `feed satisfactorily from the reservoir up vto the ball Vafter the pen has once been completely emptied of ink.

'I have ysucceeded in obtaining excellent ink Afeeding resultsby employing a pen and cartridge 'One of the principal objects of the invention is 'to Aprovide atball point pen of new and'improved construction which When emptied of ink may be quickly ran'deasily vrelled by the insertion of a 'special refill cartridge, and 'which when coupled with the'cartridg'e will insure an uninterrupted '.eed of inkffrom the vcartridge to the writing ball.

' Another important object `of the invention is toprovide a special rell cartridge ofy new and f fio full understanding of the new pen "and cartridge.y

A preferred embodiment vof vthe inventionis presented herein by 'way of 'exemplificatiom :but

it will of course beappreciated'that the invention is susceptible of incorporation in other structurally modied forms coming :equally within'the scope of theappended claims.

In the :accompanying drawings: I Fig. l is Van Yenlarged side view of a ball Y.point pen constructed in raccordance'with Ythe invention, showing the cap ofthe rpeninllongitudinal section;

Fig. 2 is a further enlarged longitudinal :section'throughfthe pen;

Fig. 3 is an venlarged 'side vievv ofthe rell cartridge, before insertion in 4the pen, With Athe protective closure for the nipple of thecartridge inposition on thenipple;

Fig. 4'isa further enlarged longitudinal section through the cartridge and .protective closure, with the closureunscrewedfandseparated slightly Y from the `nipple Fig. 5 is a'transverse section through the fcartrid'ge, taken on'the line'5-5 of Fig.V 4;

Fig. 6 is another transverse section through the cartridge, taken on 'the line 6-6 `of Figfzi;

and

Fig."7 is a greatly-enlarged longitudinal section throughthe dishedfro-rit'end of the nipple of -the 0 cartridge.

As will be -observed inthefdrawings, the new Writingrinstrument comprises-a casing Ill-and a readily replaceable'ink-cartridge I'I. The-casing Iii-which is a'hollowfshellpractically from-one endv to the otherincludes a small tip i2, 'an adapter i3, a barrel I4 rand .an end closure 15. Thetip I2 is screwed linto the front endof'the adapter li3 at "I'6,1tl'1e"barrel'l'4 is screwedover the rear end of the adapter I3 at I1, and the closure I5 is press fitted overthe rear endpithe'barrel i4 at I8, all as shown. Toiopen up the casing .Ill

to remove a spent cartridgelandreplace it with a lled one, the barrel I4 issimply unscrewedfrom lthe adapter I3.

The barrel I4 is preferably of generallycylindrical vform with a slight taper toward the closure I5, While the adapter 1I-T3 Vand tip I2 taper orwardly,`the tip I2 terminating in a verysmall end whichis but little more'than apoin't. The

tip I-2-like the adapter I3\an`d barrel I4-is'hollow :for all buta fraction of its length. The for- Ward extremity 'I9 ofthe vtip ischaracterlzed by ya short axially extending bore H20, a fine `partiallyexposed ball2l which is rotatably mounted in a socket 22 at lthe front-endof the boretzn,

and a rearwardly facing annular seat 23 which is located at the rear end of the bore 20 in concentric relation to the latter.

The ball 2| is preferably about .039 or .040 inch in diameter and is retained in the socket 22 by an inturned flange at the end of the socket. The socket 22 is only enough larger than the ball to permit the latter to rotate freely, and small radial channels (not shown) in the base of the socket are preferably provided to facilitate ink from the bore 20 entering the socket 22 about the ball. The bore 20 is preferably in the neighborhood of .018 inch in diameter and is preferably only two or three times that in length, the length of the bore being but a very small fraction of the length of the tapered portion of the casing I0. Excellent results have been obtained by employing a bore having a length but little in excess of the diameter of the ball.

The cartridge ll consists of an elongated ink holding body 24 of generally cylindrical form and a nipple 25 of considerably reduced diameter. The nipple 25 extends forwardly a substantial distance from the front end of the body proper, preferably tapering forwardly to but little more than a point at its front end. The rear end of the body 24 is closed by a plug 26 which is screwed into the same. The rear end of the nipple 25 is screwed into the front end of the body 24. The body 24 is preferably made of a molded plastic material, while the nipple 25 and plug 26 are preferably made of some relatively soft metal, such as aluminum.

The body 24 constitutes a reservoir for the supply of ink used in the writing instrument. The body is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending bores 21 which are connected serially at their ends by short channels 28 and together form one long tortuously arranged capillary passage. holds the supply of ink used in the writing instrument, is several inches in length but is preferably only about .060 or .070 inch in diameter. One f the bores 21 in the body 24--namely, the one which constitutes the discharge section of the capillary passage-is located centrally of the body 24 with its front end in direct axial communication with the rear end of an axially extending bore29 in the nipple 25. The bore 23 in the nipple is of approximately the same size at its rear end as the aligned ink holding passage in the body 24 but is reduced in diameter toward its front end, preferably in stages, and at its front end is of but very small diameter, approximating that of the short bore 20 in the front end of the tip l2. The cartridge Il, when inserted in the casing l0, is adapted to be moved forwardly within the casing far enough to bring the small front face 3U of the front end of the nipple 25into solidly clamped axial abutment with.

the annular seatr 23 at the rear end of the bore 20, whereby to establish a fluid-tight connection from the small front end of the bore 29 into the short bore 20. The front face 30 of the front end of the nipple 25 is preferably of slightly conical i or dished shape, as shown in Fig. 7, in order to `conform itself squarely to the seat 23.

This conformation is facilitated by the soft character of the metal from which the nipple is formed. The

sealing face 30 is forced tight against the seat 23 -by screwing the cartridge Il into the casing I Il. vThe nipple 25 of the cartridge is provided, for

this purpose, with a threaded portion 3l, which portion is located a substantial distance rearwardly from the front end of the nipple and iS This capillary passage, which 4 adapted to engage with complementary threads 32 provided on the inside of the front end of the adapter I3.

One of the bores 21 in the body 24-namely, the bore Aforming the section of the capillary passage which is farthest removed from the section discharging into the nipple-is provided with a laterally opening hole 33, by means of which that end of the capillary passage is vented to the atmosphere. The end closure l5 for the rear end of the barrel I4 is also provided with a small vent hole 34. The vent hole 33 is preferably located intermediate the ends of the bore with which it communicates, thereby lessening the possibility of seepage through that hole irrespective of the position in which the writing instruvment is placed. If desired, a thin paper sticker 35 may be temporarily placed over the hole 33, for removal from the cartridge at the time that the same is inserted in the casing, but such a closure has been found unnecessary. the ink being retained satisfactorily in the capillary passage with nothing over the hole 33.

The cartridge Il is adapted to be sold separately from the casing I0, as a refill for the latter, a new cartridge being inserted in the casing whenever the cartridge already in the same has become empty. Before insertion in the casing the cartridge is provided with a protective closure 36 for the nipple, which closure is interiorly threaded at 31 in order to permit the same to be screwed onto the threaded portion 3| of the nipple. The closure 36 is also preferably provided within its front end with a small rubber pad 38 against which the front face 36 of the front end of the nipple 25 is adapted to sealingly seat when the closure is in its fully closed position.

While the replaceable ink cartridge herein disclosed has been illustrated and described as being of open-ended capillary passage construction, it will be appreciated that the present invention, so far as it relates to the forwardly extending nipple on the cartridge and the connection of the nipple with the casing of the writing instrument, is not dependent on the interior construction of the cartridge and that the latter might be of any other interior construction suitable for use in holding and feeding the ink.

I claim:

1. In a writing instrument, a. hollow barrel having a, forwardly tapering front end portion, which portion is hollow throughout the greater part of the taper and is provided in its tip with a forwardly opening socket, with a short rearwardly extending bore of substantially reduced diameter, and with a rearwardly facing annular seat concentric with the rear end of the bore; and a ball rotatably mounted in the socket in communication with the bore; said barrel being adapted to receive a removableV ink cartridge having a long forwardly extending nipple of substantially reduced diameter for reception in the hollow forwardly tapering front end portion of the barrel, with the front end of the nipple in axially clamped abutment with said annular seat.

2. In a writing instrument, a hollow barrel having a forwardly tapering front end portion, which portion is hollowthroughout the greater part of the taper and is provided in its tip With e, forwardly opening socket, with a short rearwardly extending bore of substantially reduced diameter, and with a rearwardly facing annular seat concentric with the rear end of the bore; a ball rotatably mounted in the socket ln QAZS, Q66

communication with the bore; said barrel being `adapted to receive. a `removable ink cartridge having along forwardly vextending nipple ofI sub- Astantially reduced diameter` for receptionv inv the hollow forwardly tapering front end. portion of the barrel, with thev front end lof the nipple in axially clamped abutment with said annular seat, and said. barrel being provided within said in' a short bore which extendsrearwardly. for

but a smallifraction. of the length of the taper; is provided at the frontend of the bore with a rotatably mounted' ball. for transferring the ink to the paper or other surface, and is provided adjacent the rear endr ofthe-bore with a rearwardly facing annular seat for sealed engagement with the front end of a cartridge positioned` in the casing.v

4. A writing instrument, for use with a replaceable ink cartridge containing semi-fiuid ink, said instrument comprisingl a casing which is hollow substantially from end to end, tapers tward its front end, terminates at its front end ina short bore which extendsl rearwardly for: but

'ai small fraction of the length of the taper, is

provided: at the :front end of the bore with a rotatably mounted ball for transferring' the to the paper or other surface, and is provided adjacent the rear end of' the bore with a rearwardly facting annular seat for sealed engagementwith theirontend ofacartridge positioned in the casing, said casingV being provided interiorly of, the. same with meansfor securingv the cartridge in position with 'the front end of the cartridge in clamped abutment with said seat.

5. A writing instrument, for use with a replaceable ink cartridge containing semi-fluid ink, said instrument comprising a hollow adapter, a hollow barrel secured to the rear end of the adapter in rearwardly extending relation thereto, and a hollow tip secured to the front end of the adapter in forwardly extending relation thereto, said tip and adapter being exteriorly of forwardly tapering form, and said tip terminating at its front end in a solid portion containing a short axially extending bore of but a small fraction of the length of said taper, a ball rotatably mounted in the tip at the front end of the bore in communication with the latter, and an annular seat provided in the tip adjacent the rear end oi the bore, for coaction with the front end of a small tube-like nipple on the front end of a cartridge inserted in the writing instrument.

6. A refill ink cartridge for insertion in a ball point writing instrument of the type using a high viscosity ink, said cartridge comprising an elongated body portion containing a long tortuously arranged capillary passage which constitutes the reservoir for the supply of ink and is vented to the atmosphere at one point, and a forwardly extending nipple of reduced diameter at the front end of the body containing an ink feeding bore in communication with the passage in the body, said nipple being provided at its front end with an annular seat for fluid-tight axial abutment with' a complementary seat formed in the hollow front end of a writing instrument with said bore in communicationV with a ball feedingbore in.. the instrument, and being provided at a point in rearwardly spaced relation to; said annularseat with threads for screwthread'edl coacti'on with complementary thread provided: in the instrument.

7; A rell ink cartridge for insertion in a ball point writing instrument of the type using a high viscosity ink, said cartridge comprising an elongated body portion containing a long tortuously arranged capillary passage which constitutes the reservoir for the supply of ink and is vented to the atmosphere/at one' point, and a forwardly extending nipple of' reduced diameter at' the` front end ofthe bodycontaining an ink feeding bore in communication with the passage in the body, said nipple being provided at its front end with an annular seat for uid-tight axial abutment with a complementary seat formed' in the hollow front end= o-f a writinginstrurnent with said bore in communication with a ball feeding bore in the instrument, and means provided on the outside of the nipple of the cartridge for retaining the same in position inv the instrument.

8. A refill ink cartridgefor insertion in a ball point writing'instrument of the type using a high viscosity ink, whichv instrument is hollow substantially from end to endv and is characterized by a hollow barrel portionand a hollow forwardlytapering front end portion provided in its tip only with ay shortbore in communication with a writing ball; said-A cartridge comprising an elongated bodyportionwhichv constitutes the reservoirafor-the supply of ink and is adapted to be positioned in-the hollow barrel of the instrument, anda slenderforwardly extending nipple at the front endofthe body portion containing an ink feeding bore in communication with the reservoir, said nipple being adapted to project into the hollow forwardly tapering front end portion of the instrument into aA position in whichv the front end of the bore in the nipple is in communication with the rear end of the bore in the tip of the instrument, and means provided on the outside of the nipple of the cartridge for retaining the same in position in the instrument.

9. A refill ink cartridge for insertion in a writing instrument of the type using a high viscosity ink, which instrument is provided in its front end with a bore in communication with a writing ball and with an annular seat about the rear end of the bore; said cartridge comprising an elongated body portion which constitutes the reservoir for the supply of ink, and a forwardly extending nipple of reduced diameter at the front end of the body portion containing an ink feeding bore in communication with the reservoir, said nipple being adapted Ato project into abutment with the rear end of the bore in the instrument and being provided with a concave front face of a material which is adapted to conform itself under axial pressure to said seat.

10. A refill ink cartridge for insertion of a ball point writing instrument of the type using a high viscosity ink; said cartridge comprising an elongated body portion which is provided with a plurality of serially connected longitudinally extending bores, which bores together constitute one long tortuously arranged capillary passage in which the supply of ink for the instrument is retained, and a nipple on the front end of the body portion containing a bore in communication with the discharge end of said passage, the bore in 76 the body portion which constitutes the last section of said passage being provided with a laterally opening vent to the atmosphere.

11. A rell ink cartridge for insertion of a ball point writing instrument of the type using a high viscosity ink; said cartridge comprising an elongated body portion Which is provided with a plurality of serially connected longitudinally extending bores, which bores together constitute one long tortuously arranged capillary passage in which the supply of ink for the instrument is retained, and a nipple on the front end of the body portion containing a bore in communication with the discharge end of said passage, the bore in the body portion which constitutes the last section of said passage being provided intermediate its ends with a laterally opening vent to the atmosphere.

12. A writing instrument comprising a pen- .shaped casing which is hollow substantially from lend to end and is adapted to receive a readily replaceable ink cartridge, said casing being characterized by a forwardly tapering front end portion which is provided adjacent the front end of the taper with a rearwardly extending ink feeding bore for connection with a complementary bore in the cartridge, said ink feeding bore extending rearwardly within the front end of the tapered portion for but a small fraction of the length of the taper.

13. A rell ink cartridge for insertion in a writing instrument having a hollow forwardly tapering front end portion; said cartridge comprising an elongated body portion which constitutes the reservoir for the supply of ink, and a forwardly extending nipple of reduced diameter which is adapted to project into the forwardly tapering iront end portion of the instrument to a point adjacent the tip of that portion, said nipple being provided with means for detachably securing the same within the instrument. A

14, A writing instrument comprising a pen- 8 shaped casing which is hollow substantially from end to end, and a readily replaceable ink cartridge in the casing, said casing being characterized by a hollow forwardly tapering front end portion which is provided adjacent the front end of the taper with a. rearwardly extending ink feeding bore for connection with a complementary bore in the cartridge, said ink feeding bore extending rearwardly Within the front end of the tapered portion for but a small fraction of the length of the taper, said cartridge extending practically the full length of the casing and comprising an elongated body portion which constitutes the reservoir for the supply of ink, and a forwardly extending nipple of reduced diameter which projects into the forwardly tapering front end portion of the casing to a point adjacent the tip of that portion, said nipple being provided with an ink feeding bore for connection with the rst mentioned ink feeding bore.

GEORGEl D. CLOU'I'IER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

y UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,171,652 Riesberg Feb. 15, 1916 1,485,181 Grund Feb. 26, 1924 1,527,971 Forsell Mar. 3, 1925 2;258,841 Biro Oct. 14, 1941 722,508 Horn Mar. 10, 1903 2,107.424 Platt Feb. 8, 1938 1,493,680 Koepsel May 13, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 701,989 Germany 1941 491,059 Germany 1930 704,147 Germany 1941 Certicate of Correction Patent No. 2,428,960. October 14, 1947. GEORGE D. CLOUTIER Y It is hereby c erted that errorappears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requirin correction as follows: Column 5,'1ine 38, claim 4, for hurtingA read facing; an that the said Letters Patent should be read With this (irection therem that the same may conform to the record` of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 20th day of January, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommz'asoner of Patents. 

